Cool inside, hot outside ... How not to get sick when cooling rooms with air conditioning

The conditioner itself is not dangerous, but there are a couple of prerequisites that must be considered to avoid harm to your health. Tells more about them family doctor Ilya Meniss, while the pharmacy network Apotheka pharmacist Anna Kivleniece explains why rapid cooling of the neck muscles is dangerous to health.

Requires regular maintenance

Once this extra conditioner is available, it should be taken care of and serviced regularly at least twice a year. “First of all, it is necessary to be able to make sure that the system works properly. Second, each air conditioner has a filter and coolant that needs to be refilled from time to time. If the conditioner is not used regularly, bacteria, viruses, fungi, dust start to multiply on the filters over time, and when the conditioner is rarely turned on, this whole company of microorganisms rises into the air we breathe. If there is a tendency to allergies or weakened immunity, it can have an adverse effect on health, ”says family doctor Iļja Meniss.

Another risk posed by conditioners is a so-called legionnaires’ disease caused by the bacterium legionella, which loves to multiply in humid and cold environments but spread in the form of air droplets. Therefore, the greatest risk of infection is in places where there is no ventilation facilities other than air conditioners.

A difference of 3-4 degrees is allowed

If it is +29 degrees outside, then the air in the room with air conditioning must not cool down below +25 +26 degrees. Even better, if you can first ventilate the room by opening the windows, and only then operate the air conditioner to gradually cool the air. Be sure to avoid being in a place where you can feel the cold air from the air conditioner blowing directly on top of your neck, face or back. Babies need special care so that the car seat in the car is not placed directly in front of the cold air flow created by the air conditioner and the cold is not blown on top of the child.

Let it not blow directly on top!

Unlike air conditioners, fans do not cool the air, but “stir” and, although it gives the impression that this is a healthier way of cooling, the rules remain the same – do not allow cold air to blow directly on top of you.

First, the skin’s receptors will respond, commanding the nervous system to warn the blood vessels to contract, and the blood flow to the place where the air is blown will decrease, causing vascular spasms and muscle tension. Because there are nerve roots between the muscles, it is very easy to experience back pain due to the pronounced tension that occurs when sleeping directly in the wind caused by the fan. If the pain persists for more than a day or two, be sure to seek medical advice – you may need medication that will relax the muscles, reduce inflammation and help improve well-being.

Rapid cooling of the neck muscles can even cause fainting

“Care must be taken not only in the car, in the office, but also when attending public events and premises where we cannot influence the flow of air conditioning ourselves. Particular care should be taken not to cool the neck muscles too quickly, as this can cause pain and reduce blood circulation – not only causing discomfort and severe headaches, but also dizziness and even fainting, as narrowing the blood vessels disrupts the blood supply, ”says Apotheka pharmacist Anna Kivleniece.

Treat like any cold

The conditioner itself is not dangerous, but it can cause frostbite, because a person is unable to adapt to artificial and too rapid temperature fluctuations. The body’s natural thermoregulation is not accompanied, so it is easier to get angina, pharyngitis, get a sore neck, radiculopathy, which worsens as the nerves respond to the cold.

“Conditioned air usually does not cause serious illness, most often patients complain of sore throat for 2-3 days without a high temperature, and treatment is symptomatic as in the case of any cold – local sprays, sucking tablets, warm teas are used for sore throat. However, if the immune system is weakened or if there is a chronic illness, a history of tonsillitis, air conditioning should be treated with even more caution as it can provoke more serious illnesses such as acute purulent tonsillitis, sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses), radiculitis, herpes, ”says the doctor.

7 reminders so that refreshment does not rob health

The ideal and comfortable air temperature for a person is considered to be from +21 to +23 degrees.
As far as possible, you should try to do without air conditioners, think of ways to ventilate the room naturally and how to absorb more liquid to cool off.
Never run the air conditioner at the lowest temperature in hot weather.
The body should be gradually accustomed to a lower temperature and the speed of air flow from the conditioner should be such that you do not feel physically – an average of 0.15 m per second.
Care must be taken that the cold air flow does not freeze the feet. Due to the presence of reflex centers in the internal organs, irritation can cause functional changes in the organs, such as inflammation of the ovaries, urinary tract, and runny nose.
The dangerous combination of air is conditioned air + sweaty person.
Knowing that windows are often opened indoors, carry a scarf to wear around your neck or shoulders as soon as you feel a cool flow of air.